One of IU's biggest problems last year was little to no pass rush at times. Losing Richardson certainly isn't going to help that. One change I'd like to see would get the best 11 on the field at one time and improve the pass rush, in my opinion.
I would like to see Mangieri drop down to DE in Richardson's spot. IU would be losing some size at that spot (although I don't think it's a stretch to think Mangieri could be 270+ by the start of the season), but gaining some speed/athleticism. I think the combo of Hoff and Green should be at least solid at NT and Latham and Rayner would be good at the other DE. Mangieri backed up by a combo of Heffern and Shaw could solidify that line and improve the pass rush.
I would like to see Gooch move to Mangieri's bandit spot. He's already one of the biggest LB's on the team. He is already 250 and would add more speed to the field. If you put him on the same side as Mangieri, you could more easily run some zone blitz with them interchanging.....Gooch comes and Mangieri drops. With Scales and Simmons at ILB, you have the 3 LBs playing the best at the end of the year all together. Newton and Willis could battle for the other OLB spot. Or, if Oliver comes back strong or Sykes really step up at ILB, maybe Scales moves outside. (I think Scales is good enough to play any of the spots....athletic enough to go outside, physical enough to play inside.)
Allen and Dutra should be solid at safety, with Fields and maybe Walker backing them up.
Corner is the biggest question. I like Fant at one CB, but not sure about the other CB or nickel? What I'd love to hear coming out of the spring is that Laray Smith is one of the biggest surprises/most improved players on the team. He or Clark battling for the other starting CB spot, with Padmore backing up Fant.
I would like to see Walton at the nickel, with Dawkins backing him up. Both of them are kinda CB/safety hybrids. Enough size to blitz and/or be physical, but enough speed/athleticism to cover.
I would like to see Mangieri drop down to DE in Richardson's spot. IU would be losing some size at that spot (although I don't think it's a stretch to think Mangieri could be 270+ by the start of the season), but gaining some speed/athleticism. I think the combo of Hoff and Green should be at least solid at NT and Latham and Rayner would be good at the other DE. Mangieri backed up by a combo of Heffern and Shaw could solidify that line and improve the pass rush.
I would like to see Gooch move to Mangieri's bandit spot. He's already one of the biggest LB's on the team. He is already 250 and would add more speed to the field. If you put him on the same side as Mangieri, you could more easily run some zone blitz with them interchanging.....Gooch comes and Mangieri drops. With Scales and Simmons at ILB, you have the 3 LBs playing the best at the end of the year all together. Newton and Willis could battle for the other OLB spot. Or, if Oliver comes back strong or Sykes really step up at ILB, maybe Scales moves outside. (I think Scales is good enough to play any of the spots....athletic enough to go outside, physical enough to play inside.)
Allen and Dutra should be solid at safety, with Fields and maybe Walker backing them up.
Corner is the biggest question. I like Fant at one CB, but not sure about the other CB or nickel? What I'd love to hear coming out of the spring is that Laray Smith is one of the biggest surprises/most improved players on the team. He or Clark battling for the other starting CB spot, with Padmore backing up Fant.
I would like to see Walton at the nickel, with Dawkins backing him up. Both of them are kinda CB/safety hybrids. Enough size to blitz and/or be physical, but enough speed/athleticism to cover.
